Around 7 million people in Pakistan are suffering from diabetes and according to an estimate this figure will reach to 11.6 million by 2025. There are over 225 million diabetic patients around the world and this figure is also expected to reach 333 million by 2025. Growing poverty, ignorance, and crumbling healthcare sector are the main reasons behind alarming rise in the cases of diabetes in Pakistan.
These views were expressed by the speakers at different functions held in Lahore to mark the World Diabetes Day here on Saturday. A seminar was organised at the auditorium of Lahore General Hospital. Those who spoke on the occasion were Professor Dr Nazir Ahmed, Professor Dr Ghias-un-Nabi Tayyab, Professor Kokab Bashir, Professor Nadeem Riaz, Professor Abdul Manan Babar, Professor Shoaib Randhawa, Dr Iqbal Kazmi and Dr Imran Hassan shared their expertise.
The speakers maintained that diabetes was a dangerous disease. Therefore, people should avoid rich and fatty food and exercise everyday to prevent from this chronic disease. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), an annual 2 percent reduction in chronic disease in Pakistan would provide an economic gain of 1 billion dollars over the next 10 years.
They further said that diabetes was a cause of various complicated diseases such as cardiac diseases, blindness and liver diseases. They advised people to avoid smoking, rich foods and control their weight by undertaking exercise and sports activities.
Earlier, a public awareness walk was also organised at the Lahore General Hospital to mark the day. Principal Dr Nazeer Ahmed, Dr Iqbal Kazmi and Professor Ghias un Nabi Tayyab led the walk, which was attended by a large number of doctors, nursing students and relatives of patients.
According to experts, almost 80 percent of diabetes deaths occur in the developing countries. The warning symptoms of diabetes are weight loss, increased thirst, increased urination and weakness, they said, adding 30-minute walk reduces the occurrence of diabetes by 40 percent in a normal person.
They said heart attack and stroke are main complications and as the disease progresses life becomes miserable. In Pakistan, deaths from diabetes alone are projected to increase by 51 percent over the next ten years. However, many people are more vulnerable because they do not have access to appropriate health care and education, they added.